The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Eight former Longhorns sign free agent deals
04.23.2002 | Football
AUSTIN, Texas -- Eight former Longhorns players confirmed on Tuesday that they have agreed to free agent contracts with National Football League teams. Center Matthew Anderson (Cuero, Texas), quarterback Major Applewhite (Baton Rouge, La.), defensive back Ahmad Brooks (Abilene, Texas), defensive lineman Maurice Gordon (Mesquite, Texas), linebacker Tyrone Jones (Texas City, Texas), offensive guard Antwan Kirk-Hughes (Waxahachie, Texas), linebacker D.D. Lewis (Houston, Texas) and defensive end/linebacker Marcus Wilkins (Austin, Texas) combine with first-round draft picks Mike Williams (Buffalo Bills, No. 4 overall) and Quentin Jammer (San Diego Chargers, No. 5 overall) to give the Longhorns 10 new additions to the NFL fraternity.
Anderson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is reunited with former teammate and 2000 consensus All-American DT Casey Hampton. He was a three-year starter for the Longhorns from 1999-2001 and started the final 35 games of his career. A Dave Rimington Award nominee as a senior, Anderson helped UT lead the Big 12 Conference and rank sixth nationally in scoring last season (39.3 ppg). He also racked up 46 knockdown blocks and 45 pancakes in helping true freshman RB Cedric Benson register a UT-freshman record 1,053 yards. It marked the fourth consecutive season that the 6-foot-4, 305-pounder helped open holes for a 1,000-yard rusher.
Applewhite signed a pact with the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. He left his mark on the UT record books, setting or tying 48 school records during his career. The 6-foot-1, 207-pounder, who posted a 22-8 career record (.733) as a starter, started his final collegiate game in the 2001 Holiday Bowl and set UT bowl records and career highs by completing 33-of-57 passes for 473 yards and four touchdowns as UT rallied for a thrilling 47-43 victory against No. 21 Washington. As a senior, he saw action in 10 contests and connected on 29-of-46 passes for 379 yards and three TDs. He was the 1999 Big 12 co-Offensive Player of the Year, a 1999 Davey O'Brien Award (nation's outstanding quarterback) semifinalist, the 1998 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and a 1998 Freshman All-American.
Brooks joins Williams, his former UT roommate, in Buffalo. He is coming off a senior season in which he earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors at free safety after starting all 13 games and leading the team with 88 tackles (60 solo). The 5-foot-8, 180-pounder also was a key contributor on UT's national-leading defense (236.2 ypg) and a Longhorns secondary that allowed just 4.77 yards per attempt (led NCAA) and only six TD passes (tied for second-lowest nationally) last season. Brooks played in 51 career games as a Longhorn, including 14 starts at cornerback as a sophomore.
Gordon agreed to a contract with his hometown Dallas Cowboys. He made a successful move from defensive end to tackle a year ago and led the Longhorns with 7.5 sacks and 16 TFLs. The 6-foot-1, 265-pounder played in all 13 games in 2001, including 11 starts (10 at end, one at tackle), and registered 44 tackles and 16 QB pressures. Thirty-nine percent (23-of-59) of Gordon's career tackles went for a loss. He came to UT as a running back before moving to linebacker and then the defensive line.
Jones also will remain close to his hometown, as he inked a contract with the Houston Texans, the NFL's newest franchise. He was a three-year starter who saw action in 45 career games, including 22 starts at strongside linebacker. Last year, the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors after playing in all 13 games (11 starts) and registering 45 tackles, six TFLs, 2.5 sacks and nine QB pressures. A tremendous athlete with outstanding leaping ability, Jones blocked three kicks during his career (two FGs, one PAT).
Kirk-Hughes joins Jammer, his teammate for the last four years, in San Diego. He was a three-year starter who appeared in 47 career games, including 32 starts at right guard. The three-time honorable mention All-Big 12 selection recorded 44 pancake blocks and 41 knockdowns and opened holes for UT's seventh consecutive 1,000-yard rusher as a senior. The 6-foot-3, 310-pounder, who allowed only one sack a year ago, also teamed with Williams to clear the way for 12 TD runs, 25 explosive plays (run or pass of 12+ yards) and 15-of-16 third-and-short conversions.
Lewis, who started all 51 games of his UT career (a school record), signed a deal with the Seattle Seahawks and joins former Longhorns teammate DE Cedric Woodard in the Pacific Northwest. The inspirational leader of UT's NCAA-leading defense from a season ago (236.2 ypg) earned second-team All-America honors from The Sporting News, a third-team selection by The Associated Press and was UT's first-ever Butkus Award (nation's outstanding linebacker) semifinalist as a senior. The 6-foot-1, 245-pounder shared UT's Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Defensive Player honors with Jammer after recording 81 tackles, 10 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, 11 QB pressures and three fumble recoveries in 2001. Lewis recovered a UT-record 10 fumbles during his career and was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2000-01, an honorable mention choice in 1999 and a 1998 Freshman All-American.
Wilkins reaped the rewards of his outstanding workout during UT's Pro Timing Day (42-1/2-inch vertical jump; 11-1/2-foot broad jump) by signing a contract with the Green Bay Packers. A four-year letterwinner who appeared in 49 career games, he played at all three linebacking spots, at defensive end and on special teams during his career. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder moved from linebacker to defensive end as a senior and totalled 19 tackles, four TFLs and eight QB pressures. Wilkins finished his career with 62 tackles, eight TFLs, 14 QB pressures, an interception, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt.
